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Is Green Exercise for All? A Descriptive Study of Green Exercise Habits and Promoting Factors in Adult Norwegians

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  • Giovanna Calogiuri

    (Department of Dental Care and Public Health, Faculty of Public Health, Hedmark University of Applied Sciences, Hamarveien 112, Elverum 2411, Norway)

  • Grete G. Patil

    (Section for Public Health Science, Department of Landscape Architecture and Spatial Planning, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, P.O. Box 5003, Ås NO-1432, Norway)

  • Geir Aamodt

    (Section for Public Health Science, Department of Landscape Architecture and Spatial Planning, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, P.O. Box 5003, Ås NO-1432, Norway)

Abstract

Background: Physical activity (PA) in natural environments, known as green exercise (GE), can provide health benefits above and beyond PA in other environments, but little is known about the extent to which GE is an accessible form of weekly PA across different social groups. This study aims to examine the “GE phenomenon” in Norway, and evaluate possible differences in GE habits and perceived factors that promote GE across sub-groups of this population. Methods: 2168 adults from all over Norway reported weekly GE and other forms of PA, specific forms of GE, and perceived factors that promote GE. Data were examined in the overall sample and in relation with the respondents’ PA status and sociodemographic characteristics. Results: GE, especially “walking in the forest” and “activities by/on the sea”, was the most popular form of weekly PA, even among those with low PA levels. GE was fairly represented across all social groups, and especially among the elderly, those who live with spouse/partner and those who live in the west regions of Norway, while no associations were found in relation to sex, centrality, education level or household income. “Time flexibility” and “PA-supportive places” were generally perceived as the most important factors that promote GE across all social groups. “Accessibility to nature” was generally perceived relatively little important, though a gradient was observed in relation to age, education level and household income. Conclusions: GE is an important source of weekly PA and health among adult Norwegians, especially in sub-groups of interest for public health such as the elderly, those with lower socio-economic status and those who live in non-urban areas. More should be done to understand and address the inequities relative to the perceived accessibility to nature.

Suggested Citation

  • Giovanna Calogiuri & Grete G. Patil & Geir Aamodt, 2016. "Is Green Exercise for All? A Descriptive Study of Green Exercise Habits and Promoting Factors in Adult Norwegians," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-18, November.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:13:y:2016:i:11:p:1165-:d:83564
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Giovanna Calogiuri, 2016. "Natural Environments and Childhood Experiences Promoting Physical Activity, Examining the Mediational Effects of Feelings about Nature and Social Networks," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-21, April.
    2. Elliott, Lewis R. & White, Mathew P. & Taylor, Adrian H. & Herbert, Stephen, 2015. "Energy expenditure on recreational visits to different natural environments," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 139(C), pages 53-60.
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    Cited by:

    1. Elliott P. Flowers & Paul Freeman & Valerie F. Gladwell, 2017. "The Development of Three Questionnaires to Assess Beliefs about Green Exercise," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(10), pages 1-21, October.
    2. Qikang Zhong & Bo Li & Yue Chen, 2022. "How Do Different Urban Footpath Environments Affect the Jogging Preferences of Residents of Different Genders? Empirical Research Based on Trajectory Data," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(21), pages 1-22, November.
    3. Giovanna Calogiuri & Lewis R. Elliott, 2017. "Why Do People Exercise in Natural Environments? Norwegian Adults’ Motives for Nature-, Gym-, and Sports-Based Exercise," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(4), pages 1-15, April.
    4. Elizabeth W. Holt & Quinn K. Lombard & Noelle Best & Sara Smiley-Smith & John E. Quinn, 2019. "Active and Passive Use of Green Space, Health, and Well-Being amongst University Students," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(3), pages 1-13, February.
    5. Matthew Fraser & Sarah-Anne Munoz & Sandra MacRury, 2019. "What Motivates Participants to Adhere to Green Exercise?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(10), pages 1-20, May.
    6. Claudia Fongar & Geir Aamodt & Thomas B. Randrup & Ingjerd Solfjeld, 2019. "Does Perceived Green Space Quality Matter? Linking Norwegian Adult Perspectives on Perceived Quality to Motivation and Frequency of Visits," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(13), pages 1-16, July.
    7. Sigbjørn Litleskare & Tadhg E. MacIntyre & Giovanna Calogiuri, 2020. "Enable, Reconnect and Augment: A New ERA of Virtual Nature Research and Application," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(5), pages 1-19, March.

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